Not always just roundabout routes, detours can be chosen paths. They bring to a destination, rather than to a stop by along the way. Was it the intense traffic pushing us to take a detour? Or the desire for exploring something new, distant and unusual?

On the motorway to Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang, China’s northernmost province

Suburban neighborhood of Harbin

Harbin, university district

The Chinese city of Harbin, 10 million inhabitants squeezed between North Korea and Russian Federation borders lived up to all our expectations. A 12 hour-long flight catapulted us into a freezing -25 °C alien reality, far from being hostile, full of contrasts and unavoidable misunderstandings. Follow us in the next weeks along this winter detour to North East China. Pictures shot by Lorenzo Borghi, editing by Maria Francesca.

1. China Red
2. Smoky days
3. Sometimes … sticky sticks
4. Life in plastic
5. United workers of the PRC
6. Antithesis
7. Take a walk on the white side
8. Organized Chaos
9. Lights on ice
10. Blocked
11. You must leave your hat on
12. Layers
13. Au-revoir China